Detroit Week at Dazzle and more | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

Earlier this week, saxophonist Dave McMurray kicked off Detroit Week at Dazzle, 1512 Curtis, with a burning trio set featuring bassist Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady and a host of tunes from the saxophonist’s new release on Blue Note, Music Is My Life. McMurray may not be widely known outside his home turf, but he should be given his ability to blend catchy, walking-the-bar, blues-based hooks with strong, straight-ahead playing.

Detroit Week continues with blues poet John Sinclair on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and on Friday at also at 6:30 p.m. Thursday’s show features his Blues Scholars, while Friday’s show moves more directly to jazz and has drummer Paul Romaine, saxophonist Peter Sommer and bassist Mark Simon on stage. Each evening, the 9 p.m. slot is filled with different performers, G’Jai’s Jook Joint on Thursday and blues singer Thornetta Davis on Friday. Davis’ high-powered sound is anything but polite – more Grit-town than Motown. It’s easy to hear why she is called Detroit’s Queen of the Blues. Davis also is on stage on Saturday at 6:30 and 9 p.m. (303-839-5100). 

On Sunday and Monday, Detroit Week continues with saxophonist James Carter and his Elektrik Outlet trio that has Gerard Gibbs on Hammond B-3 and Alex White on drums. Carter is a monster player on a variety of horns and even recorded as a special guest with drummer Ginger Baker on his Denver jazz band’s disc Coward of the County. Much of the music on Baker’s album is from trumpeter Ron Miles and it is with Miles that drummer Rudy Royston developed his chops here in Denver. Now Royston has moved on to the national scene where he plays with guitarist Bill Frisell, saxophonist JD Allen and trumpeter Dave Douglas. 

On Wednesday, just after Detroit Week at Dazzle ends, Royston brings the latest edition of his own group, from the disc Flatbed Buggy, to Dazzle for sets at 6:30 and 9 p.m. This band has Gary Versace on accordion, John Ellis on woodwinds, Hank Roberts on cello and Joe Martin on bass. Not, at all, your standard quintet. Royston is a terrific drummer and his visits home are always more than welcome.

Up in Boulder, the Boulder Theater, 2032 14^th St., adds to list of activities for the week with drummer Antonio Sanchez’s band Migration (Seamus Blake on saxophone, John Escreet on keyboards, Matt Brewer on bass and Thana Alexa vocals) is on stage on Friday night at 8 p.m. (303-786-7030).  And starting on April 4, keep in mind, that the annual Earl Klugh Weekend of Jazz at the Brodmoor in Colorado Springs gets going and runs trough April 6 with the Rippinton’s featuring Russ Freeman, Michael McDonald, Najee, Joey Alexander and others (weekendofjazz.com).  

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